The Hebrew alphabet isn’t just an ancient writing system—it’s a theological and phonetic tapestry woven over millennia. With 22 consonants (and five final forms), each letter carries unique phonological weight, while diacritical marks (niqqudot) introduced by the Masoretes unlock its spoken depth. From the silent glottal Aleph to the guttural ʿAyin, Hebrew letters reflect the full breadth of vocal expression. Begadkephat letters shift with dagesh, traditions like Ashkenazi and Sephardic nuance pronunciation, and vowel signs ensure sacred texts resonate across generations. Knowing the letters is knowing the cadence of Scripture itself.
The Hebrew alphabet consists of 22 consonantal letters, each with a distinct name, pronunciation, and written form. While the letters themselves represent consonants, vowel sounds are indicated by diacritical marks (niqqudot) added later by the Masoretes.
1. Overview Table: Letters, Names, Pronunciations, and Final Forms
| Hebrew Letter | Name | Transliteration | Modern Pronunciation | Final Form (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| א | Aleph | ʾ | Silent or glottal stop | — |
| ב | Bet | b / v | /b/ with dagesh, /v/ without | — |
| ג | Gimel | g | /g/ | — |
| ד | Dalet | d | /d/ | — |
| ה | He | h | /h/ | — |
| ו | Vav | v | /v/ (sometimes /w/ historically) | — |
| ז | Zayin | z | /z/ | — |
| ח | Ḥet | ḥ | /χ/ (voiceless pharyngeal fricative) | — |
| ט | Tet | ṭ | /tˤ/ (emphatic /t/) | — |
| י | Yod | y | /j/ (“y” as in “yes”) | — |
| כ | Kaf | k / kh | /k/ with dagesh, /χ/ without | ך |
| ל | Lamed | l | /l/ | — |
| מ | Mem | m | /m/ | ם |
| נ | Nun | n | /n/ | ן |
| ס | Samekh | s | /s/ | — |
| ע | ʿAyin | ʿ | Pharyngeal stop or voiced pharyngeal fricative (modern Israeli Hebrew treats it as silent) | — |
| פ | Pe | p / f | /p/ with dagesh, /f/ without | ף |
| צ | Tsade | ṣ | /ts/ | ץ |
| ק | Qof | q | Backed /k/, uvular stop (modern Hebrew: /k/) | — |
| ר | Resh | r | /ʁ/ or trilled /r/ (varies by dialect) | — |
| שׁ | Shin | sh | /ʃ/ as in “sh” | — |
| שׂ | Sin | s | /s/ | — |
| ת | Tav | t | /t/ (Ashkenazi: /s/ when no dagesh) | — |
2. Notes on Pronunciation Variants
- Begadkephat Letters: ב ג ד כ פ ת – These letters have two pronunciations, depending on whether they have a dagesh (dot) inside them.
- Regional Variants: Sephardic, Yemenite, and Ashkenazi traditions may pronounce some letters differently (e.g., ת without dagesh is /s/ in Ashkenazi Hebrew but /t/ in Sephardic).
- ʿAyin and Aleph: These are guttural letters and may be silent or heavily pronounced depending on tradition.
3. Vowels (Niqqudot) Overview
Though not letters, vowels in Biblical Hebrew are indicated using dots and dashes below or above the consonants. For example:
- אָ – Qamats: “a” as in “father”
- אִ – Hiriq: “i” as in “machine”
- אֻ – Qibbuts: “u” as in “rude”
These marks help readers pronounce the text accurately, especially in Torah readings, poetry, and vocalized editions of the Bible.
Cultural and Theological Marker
The Hebrew alphabet is not only a phonetic system but a cultural and theological marker, preserved with great care across centuries. Its letters carry sacred meaning, and mastering their form and sound is foundational to engaging with the Hebrew Scriptures, liturgy, and history.
